July 2017

Amputee groups air ACA reform concerns

The Alexandria, VA-based American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association (AOPA) and the Amputee Coalition, headquartered in Knox­ville, TN, on June 27 held a news conference to outline the “big three” priority issues in the healthcare reform debate for amputees.

These are: no cuts to Medicaid that would “turn back the clock” on access to needed treatment and state-of-the-art devices; no waivers for rehabilitative and habilitative services (an essential health benefit) that could be used to deny access to care and treatment for amputees; and no changes to authorize higher premiums with respect to amputation as a pre-existing condition that could interfere with coverage access.

“For amputees, loss of affordable health insurance not only means a loss of care, it also means a loss of independence and liberty in the form of the mobility that the care makes possible,” said AOPA President Michael Oros, CPO/LPO, FAAOP. “AOPA and the Amputee Coalition are also concerned about the tendency of the insurance industry to use discussion of the potential for any cuts as the basis denial of service, even when bills or regulations are not enacted.”